Confetti falls as Niners running back Frank Gore walks off the field after the 34-31 loss. Gore ran for 110 yards and a touchdown in the losing effort.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Confetti falls as Niners running back Frank Gore walks off the...

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Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) in the second half during the lights out that happened in the third quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) in the second half during the...

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Brothers John and Jim Harbaugh meet at centerfield to shake hands after John and the Baltimore Ravens beat Jim and the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Superbowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Brothers John and Jim Harbaugh meet at centerfield to shake hands...

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David Beach of Las Angeles, Calif, looks up just during the 3rd quarter when a loss for the San Francisco 49ers seems imminent during Superbowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013, New Orleans, La.

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

David Beach of Las Angeles, Calif, looks up just during the 3rd...

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San Francisco 49er fans Sean Hyland reacts during the last minutes as the San Francisco 49er lose to the Baltimore Ravens, 34-31, in the Super Bowl, Sunday Feb. 3, 2013, at the Hi Top, San Francisco's first gay sports bar, San Francisco, Calif.

Photo: Lacy Atkins, The Chronicle

San Francisco 49er fans Sean Hyland reacts during the last minutes...

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Juan Trujillo of San Francisco watches intently as the 49ers try to overcome the Ravens in the final minutes.

Photo: Mike Kepka, The Chronicle

Juan Trujillo of San Francisco watches intently as the 49ers try to...

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Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks to throw downfield in the first half of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) looks to throw downfield in the...

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Linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the fourth quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the fourth quarter of Superbowl...

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Cornerback Chris Culliver (29) during the fourth quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Cornerback Chris Culliver (29) during the fourth quarter of...

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San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) throws downfield during Super Bowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

San Francisco 49ers Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) throws...

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Cornerback Chris Culliver (29) during the fourth quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Cornerback Chris Culliver (29) during the fourth quarter of...

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Wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) runs downfield on a punt return to score a touchdown on the first play of the second half during Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) runs downfield on a punt return to...

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Wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) runs downfield on a punt return to score a touchdown on the first play of the second half during Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Wide receiver Jacoby Jones (12) runs downfield on a punt return to...

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Brothers John and Jim Harbaugh meet at centerfield to shake hands after John and the Baltimore Ravens beat Jim and the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Superbowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Brothers John and Jim Harbaugh meet at centerfield to shake hands...

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San Francisco 49ers Running back Frank Gore (21) leaves the field after a loss to the Baltimore Ravens in Superbowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

San Francisco 49ers Running back Frank Gore (21) leaves the field...

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Linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the fourth quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Linebacker Aldon Smith (99) during the fourth quarter of Superbowl...

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Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and San Francisco 49ers Jim Harbaugh during the fourth quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) and San Francisco 49ers Jim...

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Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) breaks away for a run in the first half of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) breaks away for a run in the first...

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San Francisco 49ers Running back Frank Gore (21) runs in for a touchdown in the third quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

San Francisco 49ers Running back Frank Gore (21) runs in for a...

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San Francisco 49ers Running back Frank Gore (21) keapernicks while celebrating with Quarterback Colin Kaepernick (7) after running in a touchdown in the third quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

San Francisco 49ers Running back Frank Gore (21) keapernicks while...

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Linebacker Aldon Smith (99) and Defensive tackle Justin Smith (94) during the fourth quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Linebacker Aldon Smith (99) and Defensive tackle Justin Smith (94)...

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Brothers John and Jim Harbaugh meet at centerfield to shake hands after John and the Baltimore Ravens beat Jim and the San Francisco 49ers 34-31 in Superbowl XLVII at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Brothers John and Jim Harbaugh meet at centerfield to shake hands...

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Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.qbcoach

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore...

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San Francisco 49ers Running back Frank Gore (21) celebrates after running in a touchdown in the third quarter of Superbowl XLVII between the San Francisco 49ers and the Baltimore Ravens at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome on Sunday February 3, 2013 in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Michael Macor, The Chronicle

San Francisco 49ers Running back Frank Gore (21) celebrates after...

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The Baltimore Ravens celebrate after the 49ers failed to score on their last possession in the fourth quarter while trailing 34-29, and the Ravens took over on downs. The San Francisco 49ers played the Baltimore Ravens in Super Bowl XLVII, on Sunday, February 3, 2013, in New Orleans, La.

Photo: Carlos Avila Gonzalez, The Chronicle

The Baltimore Ravens celebrate after the 49ers failed to score on...

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The 49ers players and coaches gather around as linebacker Patrick Willis (top left) addresses the team before kickoff.

The 49ers' glorious dream of adding one last frosty can to the plastic ring, giving the 49ers' a golden six-pack of Super Bowl victories in six tries, died with Baltimore's goal-line stand.

Jim Harbaugh screamed for a holding penalty on the 49ers' last-gasp play, and nobody throws a better tantrum, but it was a night when a lot of stuff didn't get called, for both teams.

In the end, in this town, you must accept your fate. Sometimes the voodoo works for you; sometimes it bites you in the butt.

This will be a hard one for the 49ers and their fans to shake off. For the third straight playoff game, the 49ers staged a furious comeback, and it would have been truly epic, but it didn't quite happen.

Now, with humble hearts and king-hell hangovers, the 49ers stagger home without a trophy.

Thrills and agonies

After the game, an army of joyous Joe Flaccos and rowdy Ray Lewises - middle-aged Baltimore fans wearing their heroes' jerseys - descended on the French Quarter with an enthusiasm unknown to mankind.

"I got two tickets to paradise!" Ravens safety Ed Reed warbled into his postgame interview mike. He was no Eddie Money, but Ed was money.

For the 49ers, there simply was no overcoming a disastrous first half. Their first half was, in terms of effort and efficiency, FEMA-like. The 49ers were a streetcar named perspire.

They clawed back, as they had in previous playoff games against the Packers (down 7-0) and Falcons (down 17-0). On Sunday, they spotted the Ravens a 28-6 lead early in the second half. Came roaring back. Lost.

How tragic is it?

Something's happening here

Well, we hereby interrupt the weeping and wailing of 49ers faithful, and the profound gloom of the players, with a reminder that this was one sensational season. If anyone feels cheated, they might be missing the point.

Something special has been happening with the San Francisco professional football team. Sunday was a Mount Everest of a speed bump, but the 49ers are for real. Have been since Jim Harbaugh arrived before last season, and show no sign that will change anytime soon.

Right now, it's a time for players and fans to decide whether to celebrate what was in many ways a miraculous return to the glory of old, and a near-miraculous comeback, or to mourn a squandered platinum opportunity to stake a claim as the NFL's greatest team and franchise.

Take your time. Break up into discussion groups. You've got a few months to stew over this one. BYO Pepto-Bismol.

It was a crusher. The 49ers had the sport's hottest young coach in Harbaugh, and coolest new superstar in Kaepernick, but both of them had a bad-hair half. Harbaugh was outcoached by his older bro, John, and Kaepernick was schooled by the boring old quarterback on the other team, a graying dude named Joe.

Yes, it stings that there is now another Super Joe, another Joe Cool. Joe Flacco didn't erase the memory of Joe Montana and his Super Bowl exploits, but the Ravens' quarterback was Montana-esque in the clutch.

He got better protection than the pope or Paul McCartney, and Flacco was on his superb game, picking apart the 49ers in the first half like a vulture picks apart roadkill.

He was lights-out, until the 34-minute second-half power failure that left the Superdome bathed in romantic mood lighting. I'm betting the power blow will be traced back to San Francisco's PG&E, who turned the lights out in a game last season at "Candlelight Park."

For power, the Superdome folks could have used the 49ers' defense, which was getting lit up.

Kaepernick keeps his cool

Kaepernick struggled early, but you can't call it a choke. He completed a 20-yard laser on the first scrimmage play of the game, only to lose it on a penalty. The Turlock Tornado wasn't a winner, but he is a winner.

Not since Joe Namath guaranteed that his Jets would upset the Baltimore Colts in Super Bowl III has a young quarterback brought this level of buzz to a Super Bowl. Namath delivered. Kaepernick, in just his 10th NFL start, did, too ... until the end.

The big moment did not get the best of Kaepernick. A long pass on the final drive might have made the difference, but Vernon Davis couldn't handle Kaepernick's on-the-money bomb.

Mistakes were made. The best team won. And now it's time to take stock.

Since Jed York hired Harbaugh, the team has been a brand-new and shiny deal. The 49ers missed the Super Bowl by one game last season, and in two seasons they are 27-9-1, including three ultra-dramatic playoff wins. Sunday's sobering defeat notwithstanding, there is nothing to indicate that this team isn't for real, that it won't continue to be a force.

Step back and look at it as you would view an oil painting, ignoring minor flaws, and ask yourself:

With the momentary exception of the Baltimore Ravens, who's got it better than us? Seriously.